Sewing machine bed extensions

ABSTRACT

A bed extension is disclosed for converting a cylinder bed sewing machine to a flat bed sewing machine. The bed extension includes a shell, composed of molded plastic, and three brackets, also composed of molded plastic, connected to the shell for removably connecting the bed extension to the sewing machine.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1965 Szubaetal....................

FOREIGN PATENTS 919,388 10/1954 Germany......................

Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Assistant ExaminerGeorge H. Krizmanich Attorneys-Marsha11J. Breen, Chester A. Williams, Jr. and

Robert E. Smith ABSTRACT: A bed extension is disclosed for converting a cylinder bed sewing machine to a flat bed sewing machine. The bed extension includes a shell, composed of molded plastic, and three brackets, also composed of molded plastic, connected to the shell for removably connecting the bed extension to the sewing machine.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Friedhelm K. Simon Berghausen, Baden; Albert E. Immler, Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany [21 Appl. No. 697,487 [22] Filed Jan. 12, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 26, 1971 [73] Assignee The Singer Company New York, N.Y. a corporation oi New Jersey w h lek 80 00 50 0 ny2 27 1 2 l B W l 3 mumnl m7 .1 m2 0 6 2 [S4] SEWING MACHINE BED EXTENSIONS 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[51] Int.

[50] Field of PATENTEU JAN 2sv IHYI 3 5 5717 3 2 sum 1 OF 2 INVENTORS Friedhelm K. Simon and Albert E. Immler Witness BY I 4090.! MA. T9A;- QTTORNEY PATENTED JAN26 I97] 557,732

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTORS Friedhelm K. Simon and Albert E. Immler ATTORNEY Witness SEWING MACHINE BED EXTENSIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The invention relates to bed extensions for sewing machines.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, bed extensions for conversion of cylinder bed sewing machines to flat bed sewing machines have been composed of a die-cast metal such as aluminum. Such diecastings are very expensive and require extensive surface finishing as, for instance. application of several coats of paint. In addition, bed extensions have been equipped with attachment compartments and hinged end extensions which further increase their cost of manufacture and make them difficult to fit into carrying cases for the sewing machines. The foregoing procedures have been used for a part which is not critical in the sense that such elaborate procedures are necessary for its function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION such dimensions that it will easily receive a carrying case that is normally used for regular flat bed sewing machines.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention can be had by referring to the description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a cylinder bed sewing machine and a disengaged bed extension for converting the cylinder bed sewing machine to a flat bed sewing machine;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the shell and the three brackets of the bed extension as viewed from underneath the bed extension; and

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to. the drawings, in FIG. 1 a bed extension 11 is illustrated with a sewing machine 12 having a main frame 13, a standard 14 rising from the main frame, a bracket arm 15 extending laterally from the standard, and a sewing head I6 at the free end of the bracket arm. A cylinder bed 17 extends laterally from the main frame underneath the bracket arm, and spaced from and parallel to the cylinder bed, a horizontal leg 18 also extends laterally from the main frame. Two holes 19 and 20 are formed in the main frame between the cylinder bed and the parallel horizontal leg, a hole 21 is formed in the free end of the cylinder bed, and a boss 22 projects from the free end of the parallel horizontal leg.

The bed extension 11 includes a shell 23 composed .of molded plastic and three brackets 24, 25, and 26 also composed of molded plastic. The shell is shaped to fill in the space between the cylinder bed and the parallel horizontal leg at a height level with the top of the cylinder bed. The shell is formed with reinforcing ribs 27, a clearance notch 28 for a gripping portion of a carrying case which is not shown, and two mounting studs 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 for each of the three brackets. The remainder of the shell is shaped to complement the sewing machine to form a flat bed.

Each of the three brackets has two holes 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40, corresponding to two of the mounting studs on the shell. The brackets are adhesively bonded to the shell with the mounting studs of the shell seated in the corresponding holes in the brackets to position the brackets and increase the shear strength of the adhesive bonds.

The bracket 24 which abuts the main frame of the sewing machine when the bed extension is connected to the sewing machine is formed with two horizontal bosses 41 and 42 with a strengthening web 43 inbetween. Holes 44 and 45 are formed in the horizontal bosses, and steel pins 46 and 47 are mounted in the holes with press fits. The steelpins seat in the two holes 19 and 20 in the mainframe between the cylinder bed and the parallel horizontal leg when the bed extension is assembled to the sewing machine. a

The bracket 25 which abuts the free end of the cylinder bed is formed with a single horizontal boss 48 at the center of strengthening webs 49. A hole 50 is formed in the horizontal boss, and a steel pin 51 is mounted in the hole with a press fit. The steel pin seats in the hole 21 in the free end of the cylinder bed when the bed extension is assembled to the sewing machine. The bracket also has a rigid boxlike extension 52 which lies opposite the clearance notch 28 in the shell for a gripping portion of a carrying case. The rigid boxlike extension forms a weight-bearing surface for the gripping portion of the carrying case so that the sewing machine can be lifted by the carrying case which fits over the top of the sewing machine. A short leg 53 is connected to the bottom of the bracket by a screw 54.

The bracket 26 which abuts the free end of the horizontal leg of the sewing machine is formed in a rigid boxlike shape. The bracket has a boss 55 which fits underneath the boss 22 on the free end of the horizontal leg and a recess 56 into which the boss 22 on the free end of the horizontal leg seats when the bed extension is assembled to the sewing machine.

In operation, when it is desired to convert the cylinder bed sewing machine to a flat bed sewing machine, the bed extension 11 is moved towards the sewing machine from the position shown in FIG. 1. The two pins 46 and 47 carried by the bracket 24 which abuts the main frame 13 of the sewing machine between the cylinder bed 17 and the parallel horizontal leg 18 seat in the two holes 19 and 20 in the main frame. The pin 51 carried by the bracket 25 which abuts the free end of the cylinder bed seats in the hole 21 in the free end of the cylinder bed. And, the boss 55 on the bracket 26 which abuts the free end of the horizontal leg of the sewing machine fits underneath the boss 22 on the free end of the horizontal leg while the boss 22 on the free end of the horizontal leg seats in the recess 56 in the bracket. Reconversion to a cylinder bed sewing machine involves merely moving the bed extension away from the sewing machine. The short leg 53 on the bracket 25 which abuts the cylinder bed when the bed extension is assembled to the sewing machine carries the weight of the bed extension.'The rigid boxlike extension 52 of the same bracket provides a weight-bearing surface for a gripping portion of a carrying case so that the sewing machine can be lifted by the carrying case which fits over the top of the sewing machine. The molded plastic construction provides an extremely inexpensive bed extension, and the elimination of nonessentials permits dimensions such that the sewing machine will easily receive a carrying case that is normally used for regular flat bed sewing machines.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts can be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. An improved bed extension for converting to a flat bed sewing machine a sewing machine having a frame, including a laterally extending cylinder bed, and a laterally extending leg spaced from and substantially parallel to the cylinder bed, said improved bed extension comprising a shell composed of molded plastic shaped to fill in the space between the cylinder bed and the laterally extending leg of the sewing machine to a height substantially level with the top of the cylinder bed, at least one bracket formed as a separate part from said shell,

means for fastening the bracket to the shell, and means carried on the bracket and adapted to cooperate with the sewing machine frame for removably connecting said bed extension to the sewing machine frame to convert it from a cylinder bed to a flatbed sewing machine. I i

2. The improved bed extension of claim 1 in which the means for connecting the bracket to the shell includes at least one stud on the shell, said bracket being formed with a corresponding number of holes for seating the at least one stud,

and an adhesive bond between the bracket and the shell.

3. The improved bed extension of claim 2 in which the 

1. An improved bed extension for converting to a flat bed sewing machine a sewing machine having a frame, including a laterally extending cylinder bed, and a laterally extending leg spaced from and substantially parallel to the cylinder bed, said improved bed extension comprising a shell composed of molded plastic shaped to fill in the space between the cylinder bed and the laterally extending leg of the sewing machine to a height substantially level with the top of the cylinder bed, at least one bracket formed as a separate part from said shell, means for fastening the bracket to the shell, and means carried on the bracket and adapted to cooperate with the sewing machine frame for removably connecting said bed extension to the sewing machine frame to convert it from a cylinder bed to a flat bed sewing machine.
 2. The improved bed extension of claim 1 in which the means for connecting the bracket to the shell includes at least one stud on the shell, said bracket being formed with a corresponding number of holes for seating the at least one stud, and an adhesive bond between the bracket and the shell.
 3. The improved bed extension of claim 2 in which the bracket is composed of molded plastic.
 4. The improved bed extension of claim 1 in which there are three brackets fastened to the shell, and in which the means for removably connecting the brackets and hence the shell to the sewing machine frame include pins extending from two of the brackets for seating in pin accommodating holes formed in the sewing machine frame, and a recess formed in the third of the brackets for seating the free end of the laterally extending leg of the sewing machine frame. 